Broadway: An Encyclopedia

Library Journal

Theater historian Bloom (Hollywood Song: The Complete Film and Musical Companion) has expanded and updated his 1990 chronicle of New York City's Broadway. Following a brief historical overview, he presents 394 alphabetical entries with multiple cross references for easy browsing. The most substantial entries cover theaters, playwrights, composers, directors, performers, and producers, with a special emphasis on composers and lyricists because Bloom believes that "they had greater impact on American theatrical history." There is some repetition, e.g., in the lengthy articles on the Hammersteins (Arthur, Oscar I, Oscar II, and William), which does serve to make each entry complete and self-contained. Bloom adds a touch of atmosphere with entries on critics, restaurants, publicity stunts, nightclubs, and other periphery characters and incidents that are so much a part of the Great White Way. As much a storyteller as a chronicler, he uses anecdotes and a plethora of black-and-white photographs, many never before published, to produce an entertaining as well as an informative work. Highly recommended for all theater collections. (Index and bibliography not seen.)-Laura A. Ewald, Murray State Univ. Lib., KY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.